Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake

Description:

• Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in the Rockies, although only as a result of a dam, which was built in 1941 to generate electricity during WWII. This is the nearest lake to the town of Banff, and it is a welcome escape from the busyness that comes in downtown Banff. Lake Minnewanka has a huge picnic area, lots of hiking/biking trails, areas to fish (if you have a proper license), boat tours, and even scuba. The scuba can take you around an underwater town called Minnewanka Landing, which was flooded over as a result of the dam. The shoreline around Minnewanka has been a common meeting place for First Nations people for over 10,000 years, and this is one of the most interesting archeological areas in the National Park. The nearby ghost town of Bankhead is also an interesting place to explore. The frames of many of the original buildings and homes still stand, and the coal mounds are quite fun to run down! Also, the road up to Minnewanka is a popular biking trail that can take you past Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake.
  
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